Orsola De Castro

Dubbed the 'Queen of upcycling' Orsola De Castro, founder of the labels From Somewhere and Reclaim to wear, is working to encourage people to turn to upcycling and move away from fast fashion. She mainly works with off cuts from factories that would normally be thrown away and any garments deemed unfit for sale. She believes that with the right imagination and an open mind even the most ugly scrap can be made into something beautiful.

Orsola De Castro is also the founder of Estethica, an initiative of the British Fashion Council, that showcases and supports eco/green designers at London Fashion Week.

Most of us only consider the amount of waste generated post-production and I think it is wonderful that she is working to minimise waste before the garments are even sewn. If there were people campaigning to cut down the waste before and after garment construction then the fashion industry would become much more sustainable.

De Castro gave these tips in an interview with the telegraph:

'Buy clothes with longing and desire, don't buy on a whim, and always buy thinking you will pass it on to someone else. That way you will buy good quality and classic styles. Take the time to learn how to sew and mend. Sewing machines are very exciting objects and one can be very creative with one's clothes'

To read the rest of the article visit - http://fashion.telegraph.co.uk/news-features/TMG7205477/Orsola-de-Castro-The-ethical-fashion-designer.html